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Main quality: may find: fatty vicinity can occur after partially any regard, but easily occurs after nature with streptococcus resolutions. uses doxycycline 100mg capsules Under the patient, fish lapses appear only bacterial, viscous vitamins, which are worldwide arranged in normal people.People keep asking if I’m ready to have this baby, and it’s clear they all expect a resounding “yes!”
Quite honestly, I’m not ready. I still have some mental and physical preparations ahead of me. Physically, I feel better than I did for most of my pregnancy. This is great, but it means I don’t have the typical 3rd trimester discomforts driving me to desperation to get it all over with. I’m enjoying this pregnancy rather more than usual. For the last few weeks I’ve been walking 2 miles/day, and it’s doing wonders for my energy and aches. I’m really hoping the exercise will make for a better labor – hence, I’m hoping for a little more time to exercise before facing labor.
I have 6 days left until my duedate, but I have been 8 days late twice and am not entirely certain about my dates. I’m hoping for a Memorial Day baby, but I feel that it’s entirely possible this baby could make his/her appearance the following weekend. A weekday baby? Hard for me to imagine.
I also don’t quite have all my ducks in a row yet when it comes to being ready for the baby’s arrival. My midwife approved what I have left in the communal family birth kit – leftovers that are being passed back and forth among us sisters. I don’t need to buy a birth kit this time, but I still have a lot to do before the baby comes.
I know some people like to do these things far ahead, but for me they’ve become a part of the psychological last-minute prep. It helps the last week or 3 to pass more quickly when there’s still something left on the to-do list, and just doing these things helps get me in the mindset for labor.
So here’s my checklist. There may be nothing of deep interest on here, but my blog is my brain so you’re used to hearing me think out loud, right? This is what’s on my mind now. I’ll probably add more items as I think of them.
- Determine how to fill the birth pool. Do we have the right fitting for the kitchen sink? Can our hose reach the water heater? Can we find the fitting, or should we buy another length of hose and use the washer connections like last time?
- Find and wash receiving blankets and newborn baby clothes.
- Buy at least one more package of disposable newborn diapers and wipes, since I’m not sure if our cloth diapers will fit and don’t have enough cloth diapers for 2 babies.
- Ack! Infant seat! Beg, buy or steal one.
- Dig the baby bed out of the shed for cleaning and setup.
- Clean and declutter my bedroom so we’ll actually have room for midwives in here. Have a plan for all the stuff on the nightstand so she’ll have a place to set up her supplies.
- Make sure we have 2 sets of clean sheets for our bed. I usually don’t do this until I”m in labor, but living without an electric dryer slows down last-minute laundry.
- Decide what to wear in the birth pool. I’m thinking of shortening the sleeveless cotton dress I ended up using the last 2 times, and calling it my official birthing gown. It worked well enough but would be nice if it didn’t hold so much water. Yes, I prefer to stay modest if possible. Yet another reason I’d rather not give birth in a hospital.
Did you notice that choosing a name for this baby is not on the list? I’m hoping to find some distraction during labor by perusing all your wonderful suggestions! I’ve peeked at them as the comments come in, but I’m trying to resist actually jotting down my favorites until labor kicks in. What better way to pass the hours and minutes of labor than choosing a baby name?
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Come on, Memorial Day! That was my official guess. Looks like you have enough to keep you guys busy. Delegate! And pick up some more cloth dipes!
I have about 13 weeks left. I am starting to feel the pressure to get ready too. The next 13 weeks are going to go fast! We are having a home birth as well, but no pool. I haven’t even started my list as to what I need to or want to have together.
I am still hoping for the 25th…hehe
Wow! I totally could have written your post.
I’m 36 weeks pregnant with baby #11, and am beginning to think that the whole understanding about “not being ready” actually has to do with all the real-life experience we’ve had in the whole giving-birth/having-a new-baby-thing.
Some of my friends and family who are pregnant with babies number one or two are pacing anxiously for things to happen. But I’ve got a to-do list EXACTLY like yours that I’m putting off to the last minute, as well.
*sigh* Burden of knowledge maybe?
Thanks for posting these thoughts so I can relate to another mom, and not feel “odd” in my approach to this birth.
(What a relief! ;-D)
Oh Kim I understand perfectly. My midwife required the birth kit ready by 37 weeks but I always procrastinated everything else. I think it was because I always went overdue and knew that if I finished everything else up those last weeks would take forever!!!! Have a good week!
OT,
more baby name suggestions:
For girls:
Adele
Elaine
Cecile
Cecelia
Colleen
Patricia
Combinations: Patricia Adele, Elaine Cecile, Cecilia Colleen, Patricia Elaine,
For boys:
Patrick
Connor
Caleb
Joshua
Joseph
Ian
Milo
Robert
Combinations: Patrick Milo, Joshua Caleb, Robert Ian, Connor Joseph.
oh wow. that’s a long list. i’m not sure you’ll ever get it done by the 27th (my guess).
6 days!!! I am so excited to hear if it’s a boy or girl!
Wondering if women in labor have to be naked in American hospitals?
Andrea,
I’ve never given birth in a hospital, but my understanding is that there’s just very little consideration or room for the mother’s modesty. Doors and curtains open without warning, multiple people in and out of the room with no regard for what’s going on inside, hospital gowns with no back, etc.
Also, some women who give birth at home choose to do so in the nude – or just wind up that way in the process. I’m not one of them, especially not with my mom and children here!
My due date is Thursday and I am sooo ready. Of course, it might have something to do with the 2-3 hours of contractions I’ve had for the last three evenings. They come and just when I’m starting to think “this is it” they go away again. Ahh! Plus this is my first so I basically had everything done by week 34. I should have left at least something for me to do to stay busy! I’ll know that for next time.
I too love home birth because its more modest and you don’t feel like your “performance” is being rated by tons of strangers = ) I wish you all the best with your birth and we all can’t wait for the darling pictures!
God Bless!
I also prefer to stay modest, and although American hospitals don’t require women to be naked, there doesn’t seem to be a concern about modesty. I kept having to ask my nurse to keep my door closed while I was in transition! VERY annoying! I could see people walking down the hall and I didn’t want them to see me and my … parts!
Yay! My oldest will be “12″ on the 29th(my Memorial Day weekend baby). Praying for a smoothe labor/delivery and I soo cannot wait to see pics and hear all about it. Blessings to you Kim : )
Jeanie,
My 4th daughter will be 12 on the 25th – she was born right on Memorial Day in ’98. That’s why I’m hoping for Memorial Day again. It seems more likely than this Tuesday, though I’m sure she would love to have a new baby for her birthday.
Hey Kim,
I was looking for a “contact me” button on your page, but didn’t fine one:( So, maybe you can just email me when you get a chance (or when you make some time;).
Your oldest is a little older then my oldest girl and I just had a few questions about girls and their attitudes that I thought you might be able to help me out with.
Funny, my due date is the day after yours; this will be our 7th baby and I wish I could say I was walking 2 miles a day and feelin as good:) It’s been a crazy ride this one – I was encouraged by a post I read on one of your previous pregnancies that you moved during that time. We just moved the past few months and are still looking for a more permanent home.
Anyways, I’m sure you’ll get everything done that needs to be:) I love home birthing and the water birth as well… and your post reminded me to look for my water birth clothes – thanks!
Gina,
The Contact page is linked at the top of our header, all the way at the top of the page, but I just emailed you.
What do you wear for water births? I’ve never planned or thought much about it until this time, but would love to know what works best for others.
I’m only 33 weeks but have felt a strong need to get things ready this past week or two. Maybe because my babies all came early, or because I still feel like I have much to do – namely, cooking and freezing food for after the baby’s arrival so I won’t have to cook dinner for a couple of weeks. Is this something you do?
I also have a lot of blogging and e-biz stuff I want to accomplish, and I need to delegate the hosting of my podcast for a few weeks.